The Atlanta Braves have an uphill battle to become contenders again this season. They are 28-37 and nine games back of a Wild Card spot. They could start thinking about the future at the trade deadline.
The Braves traded for Sean Murphy before the 2023 season. He was an All-Star in his first season with the Braves. Last year, an oblique injury forced him to miss an extended period of time. This season, he made his debut late thanks to a rib injury. The Braves signed Murphy to a six-year, $73 million deal after acquiring him. However, if they are out of contention by the trade deadline, they could move him and make Drake Baldwin the everyday catcher.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden tabbed the Tampa Bay Rays as a team that could acquire Murphy in hopes of making the postseason and finally finding stability behind the plate.
“It seems like the Rays are always searching for their long-term solution at catcher but never seem to be able to acquire an impact player for the position, which could happen again this trade deadline,” wrote Bowden. “Their best target could be Braves veteran Sean Murphy, who is under team control through 2029. He makes $15 million per year, which should be affordable even for Tampa Bay. The Braves have 24-year-old Drake Baldwin, who should be their everyday catcher, and Atlanta could put the financial savings from dealing Murphy toward acquiring more starting pitching at the deadline. Perhaps the Rays could trade one of their starters for Murphy.”
Murphy is hitting .214 with a .771 OPS this season. Meanwhile, Baldwin is slashing .294/.346/.492. Trading Murphy for one of the Rays’ starters could allow Atlanta to stay competitive and make a late postseason push while also prepping for the future.
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The Braves figure to be on the fence between selling and buying at the trade deadline. They have the talent to kick things into gear at any point, but it would be unwise to pass up on moving Murphy if they believe Baldwin is ready to take over. When the Braves added Murphy, they likely viewed him as a long-term piece. However, thanks to Baldwin’s breakout, they could cut ties with him before his contract is up.
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